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| Geography of Haiti | |
|---|---|
| Name | Haiti |
| Native name | République d'Haïti |
| Capital | Port-au-Prince |
| Coordinates | 18°35′N 72°20′W |
| Area km2 | 27,750 |
| Population | 11,400,000 (est.) |
| Highest point | Pic la Selle |
| Highest elevation m | 2,680 |
| Island | Hispaniola |
| Neighbors | Dominican Republic, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean |
Geography of Haiti Haiti occupies the western portion of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, sharing a land border with the Dominican Republic and maritime boundaries with Cuba, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The nation's terrain ranges from coastal plains to rugged mountains such as Massif de la Selle and Montagne Noire, with major urban centers like Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and Gonaïves concentrated along coasts and valleys.
Haiti lies between latitudes 18° and 20°N and longitudes 71° and 75°W on the western third of Hispaniola; its eastern neighbor is the Dominican Republic, delimited by a 376 km land frontier that traverses features including the Massif du Nord and the plateau of L'Artibonite River drainage. Maritime limits extend into the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, abutting Exclusive Economic Zones of Cuba, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Puerto Rico; nearby archipelagos include Île de la Gonâve and Île à Vache.
Haiti's topography is dominantly mountainous, with ranges such as the Massif de la Selle, Massif du Nord, Chaîne de la Selle (continuation of Cordillera Central of the Dominican side), and Montagnes Noires. The highest summit is Pic la Selle (2,680 m), while lowlands include the Plaine de l'Artibonite and coastal plains near Tiburon Peninsula and Cap-Haïtien Bay. Major physiographic regions tie to geological structures of the Greater Antilles, influenced by the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone and the Septentrional-Oriente fault. Soils vary from fertile alluvium in the Artibonite Valley—site of intensive rice cultivation—to steep, eroded lateritic slopes on the Massif de la Hotte and Massif de la Selle.
Haiti's climate is tropical and semi-arid in parts of the Tiburon Peninsula, moderated by trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean and seasonal shifts associated with the Caribbean hurricane season and the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Elevation produces marked microclimates: lowland coasts around Port-au-Prince and Gonaïves are hot and humid, while highland areas near Pic la Selle and Massif de la Hotte are cooler and wetter. Rainfall distribution is affected by orographic lift along ranges adjacent to the Windward Passage and lee-side rain shadows that influence zones such as Grand'Anse and Sud-Est.
Haiti's river systems include the Rivière l'Artibonite (the longest and central to irrigation and hydropower), Rivière du Sud, and numerous coastal streams draining into the Gulf of Gonâve, Gulf of La Gonâve, and Caribbean Sea. Important reservoirs and hydropower installations are sited in the Artibonite Valley and near Peligre Dam on the Rivière l'Artibonite. Groundwater occurs in alluvial aquifers along plains and coastal areas such as Cap-Haïtien and Port-au-Prince, but potable water access is constrained in many communes including Cité Soleil and Les Cayes. Watersheds cross administrative departments like Nord, Ouest, Artibonite, and Sud and are impacted by upstream land use in border regions adjacent to the Dominican Republic.
Haiti forms part of the Hispaniolan moist forests and Hispaniolan pine forests ecoregions, hosting endemics such as the Hispaniolan solenodon, Hispaniolan hutia, and bird species including the Hispaniolan trogon and Hispaniolan parakeet. Protected areas include La Visite National Park, Pic Macaya National Park, and the Parc National Historique de la Citadelle Henry environs which overlap montane cloud forest and karst habitats. Coastal and marine biodiversity features coral reef communities, mangrove stands in estuaries like Anse-à-Veau, and nearshore fisheries around Ile-à-Vache and Gonâve Island. Habitat fragmentation has reduced populations of species such as the Hispaniolan palm crow and threatens plant endemics found in the Massif de la Hotte and Massif de la Selle.
Haiti's population clusters in metropolitan areas such as Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, Les Cayes, and Gonaïves, with rural settlements dispersed across departments including Nord-Est, Centre, and Grand'Anse. Urban expansion in communes like Delmas and Cité Soleil reflects migration trends following events like the 2010 Haiti earthquake and economic linkages with diasporic networks centered in Miami, New York City, Montreal, Paris, and Punta Cana. Land use patterns include smallholder agriculture in the Artibonite Valley (notably rice fields), charcoal production in uplands adjacent to La Gonâve, and tourism infrastructure along coasts near Labadee and Jacmel. Cultural landscapes encompass sites linked to the Haitian Revolution, such as Citadelle Laferrière and Sans-Souci Palace, which sit within significant topographic settings.
Haiti faces acute environmental challenges including deforestation on slopes of the Massif de la Selle and Massif de la Hotte, soil erosion in the Artibonite basin, and coral reef degradation in areas like Port-au-Prince Bay. The nation is highly vulnerable to natural hazards: seismic risk along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault produced the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and tropical cyclones such as Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Jeanne (2004) have caused catastrophic flooding and landslides in Gonaïves and Sud-Est. Coastal erosion, sedimentation affecting Peligre Dam, and waterborne disease outbreaks following events have driven international responses from organizations including the United Nations and Inter-American Development Bank focused on resilience and ecosystem restoration.